Award King*

Usher and Alicia Keys lead the pack of multiple-award finalists for the Billboard Music Awards, to be held December  8th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and set to air live on Fox. Usher will contend for awards in 13 categories while Keys is up for 12 awards. Other multiple finalists include , OutKast, Kanye West, R. Kelly and Jay-Z.

Usher, Alicia Keys and Nelly are expected to perform at the event.

The awards recognize the year's leading artists and songs as determined by performance on Billboard's weekly charts.

King Of Crunk Need Love Too

Lil Jon married his girlfriend on Saturday at a hotel and resort in Puerto Rico. The couple exchanged vows under a white columned canopy in front of 80 guests, including rumored attendees Snoop Dogg and Usher. The bride's name has been withheld.

His album Crunk Juice which was released on November 16th debuted at No. 3 at the charts last week. The album features apperances from R.Kelly, Ludacris, T.I. , Bun B, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Lil Scrappy , 8Ball & MJG, Nas, Suga Free, Usher, Bad Brains, Pharrell, Ying Yang Twinz and Pitbull.

J5...Performing Live

On Decem ber 3rd, Jurassic 5 will perform their single  at the annual Sallie Mae benefit concert for Las Vegas' Shade Tree Women's Shelter, a local non-profit organization that provides services to more than 4,000 homeless and abused women and children each month. The group will perform the single "Come on Closer" with Jem which is the theme song
for the new Julia Roberts and Jude Law movie release, Closer.

The event will be held at the House of Blues, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd  at 8:00 P.M.  The pre-show performance begins at 6:30 P.M.  Host ticket holders also are invited to the after-show party with all of the evenings' performers in the Oba Room at the House of Blues.  All tickets can be purchased by contacting the House of Blues ticket office at 702-632-7600.

Jurassic 5 have started to work on their next full-length album. The group will release the yet to be titled album and a DVD in 2005.

Rap Rock 

Kool G Rap and the live band hip hop group Savin ill will perform at The Middle East Club in Cambridge, MA on Friday, January 14th, 2005. The seven piece group is currently putting the finishing touches on their debut CD, and plan to have it released in Winter 2005.

Not So Solid

So Solid Crew rapper Megaman (Dwayne Vincent), 24, was charged with murder following the shooting of a man (named Colin Scarlett) in south London. Megaman was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on December 3rd. He is is also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence. C. Scarlett was gunned down on Maskell Road, Tooting, south London, on November 6, and died shortly afterwards. A second man, Carl Morgan, 22, of Yelverton Road, Battersea, south London, has also been charged with the same offences.

Still In Business

Incarcerated  rapper/CEO C-Bo's is set to release two albums on February 1st, 2005 via his own West Coast Mafia Records. The two albums will be C-Bo's Greatest Hits features classic cuts from notorious albums Tales from the Crypt, Gas Chamber, Till My Casket Drops, Autopsy, C-Bo The Mobfather: The Return of the Bald Headed Nut and the debut album Real Talk from  solo artist Mr. Spade. Spade has been featured on songs by Tupac, WC, Spice 1, and The Dogg Pound. The 'Real Talk' album features production by Ric Roc, Moe Betta, Mark Sparks, and Dominoe.

Can't Nobody Hold Us Down**

Even after the ugly episode involving Dr. Dre getting punched and Young Buck allegedly stabbing a man ...The Vibe Awards will be back in 2005. "We're doing the awards show next year," Vibe president Kenard Gibbs told Billboard. "If we don't, it will be counter to all the things we have been able to do with the brand and the culture." Read all about the Vibe Awards--including coverage of the incident that took place during the presentation of the Legend Award to Dr. Dre--in the January issue of Vibe, on newsstands December 28th.

On The Rise

With his own two singles "Culo" and "Dammit Man" having landed heavy mainstream radio and MTV play, Pitbull is gearing up for the release of his third single and video, "Toma", which features Lil Jon. His debut album M.I.A.M.I.: Money Is A Major Issue which was released this past August debuted at  No.14 on the charts.

He is currrently touring and promoting his album. Following are the remaining dates:

Nov. 30 Atlanta, GA MTV 2's 2 Dollar Bill Tour
Dec. 2 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena
Dec. 4 Miami, FL WMIB [The Beat]
Dec. 18 Buffalo, NY Sphere Entertainment Complex
Jan. 16 Miami, FL Low Ladder Car Show

Credits: BillBoard*/ Vibe.com **